eBikes ahoy! How an NZ startup is trying to bring the e-biking revolution to Auckland

Fed up with the problem of finding a parking space in downtown or around Queen Street, an e-bike may be the best way to get around Auckland.

Three cofounders Rory, Andrew and Nic have come together to launch a startup – BigStreetBikers – with their first outlet at the ViaDuct Harbor Avenue.

So, if you have a meeting in the city or various meetings, or just want to take a stroll in lunch time around the Bay, en e-bike may be the best solution to your needs. For a tourist looking a quick way around Auckland and its nearest islands of Waiheke and Devonport, e-bikes might be the best and cheapest way after your two feet.

The bikes are designed in New Zealand but all procured from China, understandably. “It will cost over NZD 8,000 if you wish to have them manufactured in New Zealand,” says Nic.

The startup came into existence in February. “The idea has been there for months in our minds,” says Rory.

“It all just boils to down to reducing pollution and traffic on our roads. e-Biking is a great way to do that,” says Andrew.

“Our mission is to get 10,000 bikes on the roads of Auckland by 2020,” he adds.

With wheels on electricity, there’s a life of serendipity, says an interesting tagline on the startup’s marketing brochure.

The trio have invested their own savings in the startup but Mercury (mercury.co.nz/solar) has come forward to support the startup for all its energy needs.

The startup is completely off-electricity grid.

The kiosk of bigstreetbikers is roofed with solar panels provided by Mercury. When the startup generates more power than it needs, the excess power is sold back to the grid.

Why the need for e-Bikes:

According to data available with the Ministry of Transport, number of light passenger vehicles in the city of Auckland crossed 1 million mark in 2016. Clearly, 2018, would show an even higher number, which has led to traffic jams in peak hours in NZ’s largest city. A push to eBikes as a mode of complementary last mile transport to public transit can solve the problem.

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